Hopper outlet gate actuation mechanism and automatically actuated lock

ABSTRACT

The sliding gate for a railway car hopper is operated between closed and open positions by a pivoted operating arm pivotally connected to a link pivoted to the gate. A lock pivoted to the link in locked position prevents pivotal movement of the link and operating arm until a sealing pin is moved to unsealing position and the lock is swung to an upright over center position. A nose portion on the lock is engaged by the operating arm and is moved upon opening the gate to pivot the lock to a reset position from which it gravitates to locking position when the gate is closed. Impact force applied to the hopper tends to close the gate accompanied by automatic movement of the lock to closed position and the sealing pin to sealing position.

United States Patent Fritz et al. 1 Dec. 19, 1972 [54] HOPPER OUTLET GATE ACTUATION 3,343,887 9/1967 McNamara "302/52 E N M AND T MA Y 3,509,828 5/1970 Fritz ..105/282 R ACTUATED LOCK {72] Inventors: William E. Fritz, Hinsdale, l1l.; xfizf l fizijs zg 1252 Clarence .l. Koranda, Western Atmme b y 0 ert R. Lockwood Springs, both of Ill. [73] Assignee: The Youngstown Steel Door Com- [57] ABSTRACT pany Cleveland Ohio The sliding gate for a railway car hopper is operated [22] Filed: July 30, 1971 between closed and open positions by a pivoted operating arm pivotally connected to a link pivoted to [21] Appl 1 the gate. A lock pivoted to the link in locked position prevents pivotal movement of the link and operating ..l05/282 R, 105/299, 105/304, arm until a sealing pin is moved to unsealing position l05/303 E and the lock is swung to an upright over center posi- [Sl] Int. Cl. ..B6ld 7/20, Bld 7/26, E051) 65/l8 fl r A nose portion on the lock is engaged by the [58] Field of Search ..lO5/250, 253, 282R, 282 A, operating r d i moved upon opening the gate to 105/232 i 299i 308 308 R pivot the lock to a reset position from which it gravitates to locking position when the gate is closed. [56] References Cited impact force applied to the hopper tends to close the UNITED STATES PATENTS gate accompanied by automatic movement of the lock to closed position and the sealing pin to sealing posi- 2,915,022 12/1959 Dorey ..l()5/282 R tion, 3,138,116 6/1964 Dorey ....'105/282 P X 3,183,852 5/1965 Fritz ..l05/282 R 18 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEU nu: 19 m2 SHEET 3 BF 3 UNL A TCHED l HOPPER OUTLET GATE ACTUATION MECHANISM AND AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATED LOCK 1 This invention is an improvement over the constructions disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,183,852, issued May 18, 1965, 3,343,887, issued Sept. 26, 1967, and 3,509,828, issued May 5, 1970 and in the reference patents cited therein.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide for opening and closing the gate of a hopper outlet for railway cars and the like in a new and improved manner; to mount a gate operating arm and link connecting it to the gate to occupy an over center toggle locked position when the gate is closed; .to provide for locking .the' operating arm and link in their toggle Itwill be understood that the over center linkage 19 and parts associated therewith can be employed for operating gates of hopper outlets of other constructions. For illustrative purposes, however, the present invention is disclosed in conjunction with the construction exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,509,828, issued May 5, 1970.

The over center linkage 19 comprises a gate operating arm 20 ,of inverted channel shape as shown'more clearly in FIGS.'5 and 8'. The gate operating arm 20 is mounted to pivot about a vertical pivot axis 21, FIG. 1,

locking function; to hold the lock in an over center u'nlocked position topermit opening of the gate; to pivot the lock to a reset position after the gateis opened; to hold the lock in the reset position until the gate is closed and then to permit it to move automatically to the locked position under the influence of gravity; to seal the lock in the locked position; to employ a T- shaped seal pin for interconnecting the lock and the link; and to arrange for the seal pin to gravitate to sealing position in response to impact force applied to the hopper.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hopper outlet for arailway car or the like having an operating and locking mechanism embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken generally alongline 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view, in side elevation and at an enlarged scale, taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the construction shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken generally alongline 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the lock in the unlocked position.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along line 8-8 of FIG. 1 and at an enlarged scale to illustrate how the lock is shifted to the reset position.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings it will be observed that the reference character 10 designates, generally, a hopper outlet for a railway car or the like which defines a discharge opening 11 to permit the flow of lading. A horizontally movable gate 12 is employed for closing the discharge opening 11. It is arranged for generally horizontal movement on rollers 13 and the construction may be as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,509,828, issued May 5, 1970. The gate 12 is mounted for movement with respect to the hopper outlet 10 on it and on support means, indicated generally at 14, that extends laterally from the hopper outlet 10. The support means 14 comprises 'side frame members 15, which may be extensions of the side members forming the lower portion of the hopper outlet 10, and a transverse channel member 16. It will be understood that the hopper outlet 10, support means 14 and an over center linkage, indicated generally at 19, for operating the gate 12 com prise a unitary construction.

on the transverse channel member 16. An operating head 22 forms a part of the gate operating arm 20 and is provided with radially extending pockets 23 that are arranged to receive an operating bar for applying sufficient force to pivot the gate operating arm 20, particularlyfor moving the gate 12 tothe open position when it is subject to the downward force of lading thereon.

Attention is directed to the fact that the pivot axis 21 of the gate operating arm 20 is located to one side of a line 24 that extends through the center of the gate 12 and along its path of movement to and from the gate open position. This arrangement is employed to minimize the effect of cooking 'of the gate 12 in its movement horizontally of the hopper outlet 10 and the support means 14.

The distal end 25 of the gate operating arm 20 is pivotally connected by a vertical pin 26 to one end of a link, indicated generally at 27. The link 27 comprises a pair of elongated plates 28 and 28 with a reinforcing rib 29 extending therebetween as shown more clearly in FIG. 6. This provides a unitary construction for the link 27 that has sufficient strength and rigidity to withstand the forces required to be transmitted therethrough. The other end of the link 27 is pivotally connected by a pin 30v to a lug 31 which extends laterally from the gate 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The pivotal connection between the gate operating arm 20 and the link 27 as provided by the pin 26 is about a pivot axis 32. In the closed position of the gate 12, the linkage 19 is in an over center toggle locked position where the pivot axis 32 of the pin 26 is located slightly past a line 33 which extends through the pivot axis 21 of the gate operating arm 20 and a pivot axis 34 of the pin 30 which pivotally interconnects the link 27 to the lug 31. t

The location of the pivot axis 34 of the pin 30 is important. As shown in FIG. 1 it is located to one side of the line 24 which is opposite the side of this line where the axis 21 is located. This arrangement of the axes 21 and 34 minimizes the clocking of the gate 12 in its movement between closed and open positions with respect to the hopper outlet 10.

In the fully closed position of the gate 12 the linkage 19 occupies the over center toggle locked position shown in FIG. 1. On counter clockwise pivotal movelocked position a lock, indicated generally at 37, is employed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the lock 37 is of generally inverted channel shape and is arranged to be pivoted about a horizontal transverse axis 38 by a pin 39, FIGS. 3-8, which extends horizontally through a bearing sleeve 40, FIG. 6, which is welded, as indicated at 41, to the upper plate 28 of the link 27. The lock 37 includes depending side flanges 42 and 43. An extension 44 of the flange 42, FIG. 6, is arranged to overlie juxtaposed side 45 of the lower plate 28 of the link 27 in locked position thereby preventing clockwise movement of the gate operating arm'20 toward the toggle unlocked position accompanied by opening movement of the gate 12. The extension 44 has an upwardly inclined edge 46 as viewed in FIG. 3 along which there is located a protuberance 47 that is arranged, as shown in FIG. 8, to engage upper surface 48 of the gate operating arm and of the extension 35 to hold the lock 37 in the reset position from which it can automatically gravitate to the locked position when the linkage 19 is returned to the toggle locked position shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows the over center unlocked position of the lock 37. Here it will be observed that a shoulder 51 on the lock 37 engages upper surface 52 of the upper plate 28 of the link 27 to hold the lock 37 in this position. Asthe linkage 19 is shifted, as shown in FIG. 1,'for opening movement of the gate 12 a nose portion 53 which extends from the lock 37 is engaged by a side 54, FIG. 8, of the gate operating arm 20. After sufficient pivotal movement of the gate operating arm 20 occurs, the lock 37 is shifted to a balance position indicated by broken lines in FIG. 8, at which time it gravitates in a clockwise direction, indicated by arrow 55, until the protuberance 47 engages the upper surface 48 of the gate operating arm. As pointed out above, continued operation of the linkage 19 to the gate open position is accompanied by holding of the lock 37 in the reset position shown by full lines in FIG. 8. On return of the linkage 19 to the over center toggle locked position, the protuberance 47 moves off of the upper surface 48, as shown in FIG. 3, whereupon the lock 37 gravitates automatically to the locked position.

It is desirable that provision be made for sealing the lock 37 in the locked position to prevent unauthorized opening of the gate 12. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper plate 28 of the link 27 underlies the lock 37 in the locked position and has an upstanding flange 57 which is provided with an aperture 58 that is aligned with an aperture 59 in an upstanding flange 60 from the lock 37. One end 61 of the top ofa T-shaped seal pin, indicated generally at 62, extends through the apertures 58 and S9 to prevent shifting of the lock 37 to the unlocked position. The other end 63 of the top of the T-shaped seal pin 62 extends underneath a bar 64 that is secured, as by welding, to flanges 65, FIG. 4, which extend upwardly from the lock 37. The spaced flanges 65 provide a groove 66 along which the top of the T-shaped seal pin 62 is slidable, flanges 67 extend at right angles away from the flanges 65' and with the flange 60 provide a groove 68 transversely of the lock 37 for receiving the stem 69 of the T-shaped seal pin 62. It will be understood that the seal pin 62 can occupy the position shown in FIG. 4 in the sealing position or that it can be swung through 180 to an alternate sealing position. Apertures 70 in the flange 57 are aligned with apertures 71 in the flanges 67 in either aligned pair of which a sealing band 72 can be placed in accordance with conventional practice. As long as the sealing band 72 remains unbroken, the stem 69 of the T-shaped seal pin 62 cannot be moved out of the groove 68 to an upright position in which it can be shifted in the groove 66 from the sealing position shown in FIG. 4 to the broken line position in which the end 61 is moved out of the aperture 58 in the flange 57. Then the lock 37 can be swung to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 3 shows that upper surface 73 of the lock 37 in the locked position is inclined downwardly. The reason for this is to. permit impact forces appliedto the hopper outlet 10 to cause the T-shaped seal pin 62 to move from the unsealed position automatically to the sealed position. It will be recalled that the stem 69 of the seal pin 62 is shifted to a vertical position from that shown in FIG. 4 and then is moved in the groove 66 so that the end 61 clears the aperture 58 in the flange 57. The seal pin 62 is held in this position since the stem 69 is located between the flanges 65. When the seal pin 62 has slid in the direction indicated by arrow 74, FIG. 3,

to the sealing position or the end 61 has entered the aperture 58, the stem 69 then has moved out of the position between the flanges and is permitted then to fall by gravity in one direction or the other into the groove 68.

In operation, for opening the gate 12 the sealing band 72 isbroken and the stem 69 of the seal pin 62 is swung through and is shifted laterally to remove the end 61 from the aperture 58. The lock 37 now can be swung manually to the unlocked position shown in FIG. 7 where the seal pin 62 is held by gravity in the position here shown and the lock 37 is held in this position on engagement of the shoulder 51 with the upper surface 52 of the top plate 28. A bar is inserted in one of the pockets 23 of the operating head 22 to pivot it and the gate operating arm 20 in a clockwise direction, indicated by arrow 75. The linkage 19 then moves out of the over center toggle locked position since the extension 44 no longer overlies the juxtaposed side 45 of the lower plate .28. The gate 12 then begins to move toward the open position. When the gate operating arm 20 is pivoted to the position along line 76, FIG. 1, the side 54 picks up the nose portion 53 and starts pivotal movement of the lock 37 from the over center unlocked position, FIG. 7, to the balance position shown by broken lines in FIG. 8. As the movement of the gate operating arm 20 continues in the gate opening direction, the lock 37 falls by gravity to the position shown by full lines in FIG. 8 where the protuberance 47 engages the upper surface 48 of the gate operating arm 20 and holds it in this position which is the reset position until the linkage 19 is returned to the over center toggle locked position'shown in FIG. 1, accompanied by closure of the gate 12. Then the lock 37 gravitates to the locked position.

It is often the case that the gate 12 is not manually reclosed after lading has been removed. However, in accordance with this invention the linkage 19 tends to return automatically to the toggle locked position and the lock 37 to the locked position. As a result of impact forces applied to the gate 12 due to the starting and stopping of the railway car, for example, provided with the hopper outlet,the gate 12 tends to return from the full open position shown by broken lines in FIG. 1 to the closed position accompanied by return of the linkage 19 to the over center position and the automatic locking of the lock 37 in the manner described. Also, as a result of impact forces applied to the hopper outlet under these conditions the seal pin 62 tends to return to the sealing position shown in FIG. 4 because of the inclined upper surface 73 of the lock 37.

We claim:

l. A discharge outlet assembly comprising a hopper defining a discharge opening, support means extending laterally from said hopper including a transverse member spaced from said hopper, a gate movable on said hopperand said support means for closing said opening, a gate operating arm pivotally mounted at one end on said transverse member about an axis located to one side of a line through the center of said gate and along its path of movement, a link pivotally connected at one end to the distal end of said gate operating arm and pivotally connected at its other end to said gate about an axis located to the other side of said line, and an operating head on said one end of said gate operating arm for pivoting it about the first mentioned axis to move said gate between closed and open positions.

2. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 1 wherein an extension on said distal end of said gate operating arm engages said link to limit movement of the pivotal connection therebetween to an over center position past a line extending through said axes in the closed position of said gate.

3. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein an inverted channel shaped lock is pivotally mounted on said link about a horizontal transverse axis with one depending flange in locked position overlying a juxtaposed side of said gate operating arm to lock said gate in closed position.

4. The discharge outlet assembly according toclaim 3 wherein a seal pin is mounted on said lock for engagement with said link to prevent movement of said lock to unlocked position until said seal pin is moved out of engagementwith said link.

5. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 3 wherein shoulder means on said lock engage said link and limit pivotal movement thereof to an over center unlocked position.

6. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 5 wherein a nose portion on said lock is engaged by one side of said gate operating arm in pivoting to gate open position to pivot said lock from said over center unlocked position past its center upright position whereupon said lock gravitates to a reset position, closure of said gate resulting from impact force applied to said hopper causing said gate operating arm and said link to pivot to said over center position thereof accompanied by pivoting of said lock from its reset position to its locking position.

7. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 6 wherein a protuberance on said one depending flange of said inverted channel shaped lock adjacent its pivot axis engages the upper surface of said gate operating arm throughout its movement to gate open position to hold said lock in said reset position.

8. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 6 wherein said link underlies said lock and has an apertured upstanding flange overlying the juxtaposed upstanding apertured end of said lock in locked position, and a seal pin is slidably mounted on said lock for endwise sealing engagement through said apertures.

9. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 8 wherein said sealing pin is generally T-shaped, means mount the top of said T-shape for pivotal and endwise slidable movement on said lock, slot means on said lock receive the stem of said T-shape, and said upstanding flange of said link and said upstanding end of said lock have aligned apertures for receiving a sealing band in overlying relation to said stem in said slot means.

10. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 9 wherein said lock in normal locked position has at least that portion thereof on which said top of said T- shape is mounted inclined toward said upstanding flange of said link whereby said sealing pin tends to gravitate to sealing position as a result of movement of said hopper.

11. A discharge outlet assembly comprising a hopper defining a discharge opening, support means extending laterally from said hopper including a transverse member spaced from said hopper, a gate movable on said hopper andsaid support means for closing said opening, a gate operating arm pivotally mounted at one end on said transverse member, a link pivotally connected at one end to the distal end of said gate operating arm and pivotally connected at its other end to said gate, an operating head on said one end of said gate operating arm for pivoting it to move said gate between closed and open positions, an extension on. said distal end of said gate operating arm for engaging said link to limit movement of the pivotal connection therebetween to the closed position of said gate, and an inverted channel shaped lock pivotally mounted on said link about a horizontal transverse axis having one depending flange in locked position overlying a juxtaposed side of said gate operating arm to lock said gate in closed position.

12. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 11 wherein a seal pin is mounted on said lock for engagement with said link to prevent movement of said lock to unlocked position until said seal pin is moved out of engagement with said link.

13. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 11 wherein shoulder means on said lock engage said link and limit pivotal movement thereof to an over center unlocked position.

14. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 13 wherein a nose portion on said lock is engaged by one side of said gate operating arm in pivoting to gate open position to pivot said lock from said over center unlocked position past its center upright position whereupon said lock gravitates to a reset position, closure of said gate resulting from impact force applied to said hopper causing said gate operating arm and said link to pivot to said over center position thereof accompanied by pivoting of said lock from its reset position to its locking position.

15. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 14 wherein a protuberance on said one depending flange of said inverted channel shaped lock adjacent its pivot axis engages the upper surface of said gate operating arm throughout its movement to gate open position to hold said lock in said reset position.

16. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 14 wherein said link underlies said lock and has an apertured upstanding flange overlying the juxtaposed upstanding apertured end of said lock in locked position, and a seal pin is slidably mounted on said lock for endwise sealing engagement through said apertures.

17. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 16 wherein said sealing pin is generally T-shaped, means mount the top of said T-shape for pivotal and endwise slidable movement on said lock, slot means on said lock receive the stem of said T-shape, and said upstanding flange of said link and said upstanding end of 

1. A discharge outlet assembly comprising a hopper defining a discharge opening, support means extending laterally from said hopper including a transverse member spaced from said hopper, a gate movable on said hopper and said support means for closing said opening, a gate operating arm pivotally mounted at one end on said transverse member about an axis located to one side of a line through the center of said gate and along its path of movement, a link pivotally connected at one end to the distal end of said gate operating arm and pivotally connected at its other end to said gate about an axis located to the other side of said line, and an operating head on said one end of said gate operating arm for pivoting it about the first mentioned axis to move said gate between closed and open positions.
 2. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 1 wherein an extension on said distal end of said gate operating arm engages said link to limit movement of the pivotal connection therebetween to an over center position past a line extending through said axes in the closed position of said gate.
 3. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 2 wherein an inverted channel shaped lock is pivotally mounted on said link about a horizontal transverse axis with one depending flange in locked position overlying a juxtaposed side of said gate operating arm to lock said gate in closed position.
 4. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 3 wherein a seal pin is mounted on said lock for engagement with said link to prevent movement of said lock to unlocked position until said seal pin is moved out of engagement with said link.
 5. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 3 wherein shoulder means on said lock engage said link and limit pivotal movement thereof to an over center unlocked position.
 6. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 5 wherein a nose portion on said lock is engaged by one side of said gate operating arm in pivoting to gate open position to pivot said lock from said over center unlocked position past its center upright position whereupon said lock gravitates to a reset position, closure of said gate resulting from impact force applied to said hopper causing said gate operating arm and said link to pivot to said over center position thereof accompanied by pivoting of said lock from its reset position to its locking position.
 7. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 6 wherein a protuberance on said one depending flange of said inverted channel shaped lock adjacent its pivot axis engages the upper surface of said gate operating arm throughout its movement to gate open position to hold said lock in said reset position.
 8. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 6 wherein said link underlies said lock and has an apertured upstanding flange overlying the juxtaposed upstanding apertured end of said lock in locked position, and a seal pin is slidably mounted on said lock for endwise sealing engagement through said apertures.
 9. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 8 wherein said sealing pin is generally T-shaped, means mount the top of said T-shape for pivotal and endwise slidable movement on said lock, slot means on said lock receive the stem of said T-shape, and said upstanding flange of said link and said upstanding end of said lock have aligned apertures for receiving a sealing band in overlying relation to said stem in said slot means.
 10. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 9 wherein said lock in normal locked position has at least that portion thereof on which said top of said T-shape is mounted inclined toward said upstanding flange of said link whereby said sealing pin tends to gravitate to sealing position as a result of movement of said hopper.
 11. A discharge outlet assembly comprising a hopper defining a discharge opening, support means extending laterally from said hopper including a transverse member spaced from said hopper, a gate movable on said hopper and said support means for closing said opening, a gate operating arm pivotally mounted at one end on said transverse member, a link pivotally connected at one end to the distal end of said gate operating arm and pivotally connected at its other end to said gate, an operating head on said one end of said gate operating arm for pivoting it to move said gate between closed and open positions, an extension on said distal end of said gate operating arm for engaging said link to limit movement of the pivotal connection therebetween to the closed position of said gate, and an inverted channel shaped lock pivotally mounted on said link about a horizontal transverse axis having one depending flange in locked position overlying a juxtaposed side of said gate operating arm to lock said gate in closed position.
 12. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 11 wherein a seal pin is mounted on said lock for engagement with said link to prevent movement of said lock to unlocked position until said seal pin is moved out of engagement with said link.
 13. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 11 wherein shoulder means on said lock engage said link and limit pivotal movement thereof to an over center unlocked position.
 14. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 13 wherein a nose portion on said lock is engaged by one side of said gate operating arm in pivoting to gate open position to pivot said lock from said over center unlocked position past its center upright position whereupon said lock gravitates to a reset position, closure of said gate resulting from impact force applied to said hopper causing said gate operating arm and said link to pivot to said over center position thereof accompanied by pivoting of said lock from its reset position to its locking position.
 15. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 14 wherein a protuberance on said one depending flange of said inverted channel shaped lock adjacent its pivot axis engages the upper surface of said gate operating arm throughout its movement to gate open position to hold said lock in said reset position.
 16. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 14 wherein said link underlies said lock and has an apertured upstanding flange overlying the juxtaposed upstanding apertured end of said lock in locked position, and a seal pin is slidably mounted on said lock for endwise sealing engagement through said apertures.
 17. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 16 wherein said sealing pin is generally T-shaped, means mount the top of said T-shape for pivotal and endwise slidable movement on said lock, slot means on said lock receive the stem of said T-shape, and said upstanding flange of said link and said upstanding end of said lock have aligned apertures for receiving a sealing band in overlying relation to said stem in said slot means.
 18. The discharge outlet assembly according to claim 17 wherein said lock in normal locked position has at least that portion thereof on which said top of said T-shape is mounted inclined toward said upstanding flange of said link whereby said sealing pin tends to gravitate to sealing position as a result of movement of said hopper. 